What was the greatest weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
A. the ease with which it could be amended
B. the national government’s unchecked power to tax
C. the inability to put an end to the Revolutionary War
D. its failure to provide for a strong central government
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is:
D. its failure to provide for a strong central government
Explanation:
The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, served as the first constitution of the United States, governing the nation during and immediately after the American Revolutionary War. Its greatest weakness lay in its failure to establish a strong central government. The Articles created a confederation, a kind of government where the central authority is relatively weak, and the primary powers reside in the individual states.
Under the Articles of Confederation, each state retained “its sovereignty, freedom, and independence.” This principle meant that the central government had limited authority and could not enforce laws directly on individuals; instead, it could only request compliance from the states. The national government lacked several critical powers, including the power to levy taxes, regulate interstate and international commerce, and enforce laws. These limitations severely hindered its ability to manage national issues, leading to economic disarray and diplomatic challenges.
One major issue was financial: the central government could not impose taxes and had to rely on voluntary contributions from the states. This arrangement led to a lack of funds, which hindered the government’s ability to pay debts incurred during the Revolutionary War and to fund its operations. This financial weakness undermined the credibility of the government both domestically and internationally.
Moreover, the Articles did not provide for a separate executive branch or a federal judicial system, which meant there were no means to enforce the laws passed by Congress or to mediate disputes between states. The legislative branch under the Articles, a unicameral body where each state had one vote regardless of size, often found itself deadlocked and unable to reach the required majorities for making important decisions.
The inability of the government under the Articles to respond effectively to internal and external challenges demonstrated the need for a stronger federal authority. This realization led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where the U.S. Constitution was drafted, creating a stronger federal government with distinct executive, legislative, and judicial branches. This new system addressed the weaknesses of the Articles by providing the central government with sufficient authority to govern effectively, including the power to tax and regulate commerce.